Thread: Latin Kings leader convicted of drug conspiracy

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...,2041022.story

chicagotribune.com
Latin Kings leader convicted of drug conspiracy
King faces a minimum of 20 years in prison
By Jeff Coen

Chicago Tribune reporter

12:56 PM CDT, July 22, 2008

The reputed No. 2 leader of the Latin Kings street gang in Chicago was convicted Tuesday by a federal jury of drug conspiracy and attempted cocaine distribution.

The jury deliberated for parts of three days before convicting Fernando King, 38, the gang's reputed "Supreme Inca" who has been in custody since his arrest in December 2006. U.S. District Judge David Coar set sentencing for Dec. 3.

King, described by prosecutors as the gang's "chief operating officer," faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison.

The government's case rested largely on the cooperation of Latin Kings insider Jesse Guajardo and his undercover recordings of the gang's drug activities. Guajardo provided the key testimony at the trial, which started last week in the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse.

In the same note informing the judge of their verdict, jurors expressed concern for their "security and safety." The defense moved for a mistrial based on the note, but the judge denied it.

After court, King's lawyer, Joseph Lopez, said the note raised concerns that the jury may have been influenced by evidence that wasn't part of the trial.

The jury apparently was worried "without anyone ever threatening them or giving them a mean look," Lopez said after the verdict. "Apparently they thought more about their safety than they did about the case."

Prosecutors declined to comment on the jury's note.

As part of his undercover work, Guajardo testified that he delivered a kilogram of sham cocaine to King as payment for insuring that gang members would pay their drug debts.

In closing arguments last week, prosecutors identified King as the highest-ranking Latin King under the gang's top leader, or corona. Guajardo's recordings showed that King provided gang backing for cocaine sales, Assistant U.S. Atty. Andrew Porter told jurors.

Lopez, King's lawyer, didn't deny King was a gang member but said he was more interested in growing a restaurant business. Guajardo set him up by offering quick cash, Lopez said.

jcoen@tribune.com

Copyright © 2008, Chicago Tribune

Good! - Get that dirty rotten scum off our streets!